USS Yorktown at Midway

[mkite93]

Coming up on June 4th is the anniversary of the start to the Battle of Midway which resulted in a decisive US victory. This did come at a cost, one of those being the loss of the aircraft carrier Yorktown. She put up a fight at Midway and had the ship not been present the outcome may have been completely different. I decided to post this a few days early on May 28th which is the day the ship slipped into dry dock for repairs for the final time to repair damage from the Battle of Coral Sea. Repairs were completed in 48 hours and they were to sea again heading towards Midway. 
 

In respect to the 141 who lost their lives onboard here is some information to remember the sacrifice of one member of her crew.  Hailing from New Orleans Louisiana In 1940 this young man enlisted in the Navy just months after his 17th birthday. It appears he was attached to the Yorktown prior to Pearl Harbor. So he was present for all of the ships actions, which were few but their importance was great. This Mess Attendant lost his life and was considered missing after the attacks of June 4th. Late in the day on the 4th the ship began to list heavily and In best interest of safety for her crew of over 2,000 the order was given to abandon ship. Yet the Yorktown didn’t sink as was expected. On the 6th In efforts to try and salvage the ship with a destroyer along side it was then a Japanese submarine managed to finish her off with two torpedos along with the destroyer along side. 
 

I recently acquired this medal from a fellow forum member and thought I would take a minute to honor the service and sacrifice of this sailor and all others who lost their lives at Midway. 

[mkite93]

[scottplen]

Outstanding medal ! Rare . 
RIP Sailor !
 

[manayunkman]

You have to wonder what happened to him.

 

Poignant medal.

[KASTAUFFER]

Thanks for honoring him!  I have a couple GCM groups to Yorktown survivors.

 

Kurt

[mkite93]

Thanks for all the comments. 
 

here is one interesting thing I located online about him. Someone who researched him previously had this posted online that he found. Not sure what year this was ran in a newspaper, possibly postwar but strangely it’s a Japanese newspaper company from my research. So any thoughts on what this is or why would be appreciated. 

[USMCR79]

My Great Uncle Frank Allen was a Yard Worker (Electrician) at Pearl Harbor when the Yorktown was brought in damaged after Coral Sea - They worked non stop for 48 hours+ to get it ready for Midway - He was still making repairs when the Yorktown left Pearl Harbor and was put off onto a Destroyer along with a handful of other workmen before the Yorktown entered hostile waters. I have always thought that this was a great achievement by the Yard Workers.

 

Nice tribute Mike - Hopefully I will see you in Franklin in November

 

Bill

[USMCR79]

John F. Poggi was an ACMM with Bombing 5 on the USS Yorktown - His original 1932 medal went down with the ship - This is his post war replacement.

 

Bill

[Old Crow 1986]

"Kind Sir," "Oblige me please by giving me some information about my son...I am worried half to death, please help me."

A mother's loss, a sailor's sacrifice, echoing across the ages.

Bless'em all

[67Rally]

It is artifacts such as these that truly bring to light the impact of losing a loved one who was serving. Holding a KIA PHM, for me, is almost painful. Knowing that a widow, a parent or a fatherless child held the medal and shed a sorrowful tear or even felt anger as a result of the loss. 

[joeclown]

I served with a man in 1965 that had been on the Yorktown his name was Willy Leary

[T Ambrosini]

My stepmother's uncle, Tom Cheek, was an aviator who crashed into a barrier while landing on the Yorktown during the Battle of Midway.  Unlike the majority of my relatives who fought in WW2, Tom would speak very openly and frankly about his experiences.  Needless to say, the stories he told of that engagement were very powerful.  "The Greatest Generation" is an accurate moniker.

 

Tom

[R Leonard]

Tom was one of the really good guys, had many a conversation via phone or exchanged emails back in the 1990's.  My father, Bill Leonard, was XO of VF-3 at Midway.

 

Just a few days ago posted this . . . 

 

[trenchfoot]

CGM Garfield Egeland served aboard the Yorktown from March 30th, 1941 until it was damaged and evacuated on June 4th. Egeland was wearing this M1917A1 "Kelly" helmet during the Battle of Midway and on that fateful day when the Yorktown was hit, kept it with him when he was evacuated, and wrote the date he left in pencil inside the helmet along with "York." When he transferred to the USS West Virginia shortly after, Egeland retained his helmet as a memento of his former ship. I know this isn't a medal, but thought it would go well with this thread honoring members of the Yorktown

 

[mkite93]

Thanks everyone for the added comments and interesting information on other Yorktown crew members. If anyone had any other PHs or items feel free to add them to this thread.